DEAR HARRIETTE: I grew up being very close to my siblings. I have an older sister and a younger brother. As my siblings and I got older, we wanted different things, which meant both my sister and brother moved to Japan. My sister is pursuing her dream of being a nurse and attending medical school in Japan. My younger brother is enjoying working at a local restaurant. I am in New York completing my undergraduate degree.
Do you have any recommendations for how my siblings and I can maintain our closeness even though we are on opposite sides of the world? -- Lonely Sibling, Brooklyn, New York
DEAR LONELY SIBLING: Make technology your best friend! Through FaceTime, texting and free international phone calls, you should be able to see each other and communicate regularly. You just have to choose to do so! You will need to figure out times of day to talk, because the time zones are very different.
Though it is expensive to travel so far, you all should save your money so that you can see each other in person occasionally. Because there’s one of you, it will be more affordable for you to get on a plane. Perhaps you can all chip in for your airline ticket.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)